Providing suggested content based on user detected gesture

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method comprises: monitoring, by a user device, user gesture and user input activity by a user of the user device; detecting, by the user device, that the user has entered a thinking state based on the monitoring; determining, by the user device, subject content based on content displayed on a display of the user device based on the detecting; determining, by the user device, relevant content associated with the subject content; and presenting, by the user device, the relevant content to the user via the display.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to providing suggested contentto a user via a user device and, more particularly, to providingsuggested content to the user based on a detected user gesture.

User devices, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc., include touchscreen interfaces via which a user may provide user input. Users oftenuse accessory devices, such as a stylus to hand write or hand draw on atouch screen in order digitally capture handwriting or drawings. Theability to digitally hand write text via a touch screen of a user deviceprovides a level of convenience for users who prefer to hand writerather than type using a physical or virtual keyboard. When writing(e.g., an article, story, etc.), a user may momentarily pause whilethinking of subsequent material to write.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method includes:monitoring, by a user device, user gesture and user input activity by auser of the user device; detecting, by the user device, that the userhas entered a thinking state based on the monitoring; determining, bythe user device, subject content based on content displayed on a displayof the user device based on the detecting; determining, by the userdevice, relevant content associated with the subject content; andpresenting, by the user device, the relevant content to the user via thedisplay.

In an aspect of the invention there is a computer program product fordetecting that the user has entered a thinking state while using a userdevice and providing relevant content, the computer program productcomprising a computer readable storage medium having programinstructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable bya computing device to cause the computing device to: monitor user inputactivity by the user of the user device; detect that the user hasentered a thinking state based on a pause in the user input activity;determine subject content based on content displayed on a display of theuser device based on the detecting; determine relevant contentassociated with the subject content; and present the relevant content tothe user via the display.

In an aspect of the invention a system comprises: a CPU, a computerreadable memory and a computer readable storage medium associated with auser device; program instructions to monitor user input to the userdevice via an accessory device; program instructions to detect a pausein the user input based on the monitoring; program instructions toprovide relevant content to the user via the user device based on thedetecting the pause. The program instructions are stored on the computerreadable storage medium for execution by the CPU via the computerreadable memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in the detailed description whichfollows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an overview of an example implementation in accordance withaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example environment in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of example components of a cognitiveassistance component in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 shows an example flowchart for determining and presentingrelevant content to a user based on detecting that the user has entereda thinking state in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to providing suggested contentto a user via a user device and, more particularly, to providingsuggested content to the user based on a detected user gesture. Aspectsof the present invention may detect a user gesture (e.g., a “thinking”gesture) when the user pauses from digitally hand writing text via atouch screen of a user device. Based on the detecting, the user devicemay identify the content currently viewed on the screen of the userdevice and/or content that has been written thus far by the user.Further, the user device may identify and present suggested or relevantcontent based on the viewed content, the currently written content,and/or user knowledge, interest, and expertise data. In this way,relevant content is presented to the user while the user is thinking inorder to assist the user in enhancing the user's thoughts and gaininsights into additional material to assist with completing the user'sthoughts and writing. Further, relevant content is presented based on aprediction of what the user may be thinking as determined by the contentcurrently being viewed when the user has entered a “thinking” state.

As described herein, the user device may include a cognitive assistancecomponent to monitor the user's gestures, writing activity, etc., and todetect that user has paused writing activity and has entered a“thinking” state. For example, the cognitive assistance component maydetect, using a camera on the user device and based on visual analysisof the user's facial expressions, pen/stylus position, userinput/writing activity, etc., that the user has entered a thinkingstate. As a specific, non-limiting and illustrative example, thecognitive assistance component may use facial recognition techniques toidentify a facial expression consistent with a thinking gesture.Additionally, or alternatively, the cognitive assistance component mayuse image analysis techniques (e.g., pixel-based analysis, objectdetection, etc.) to detect the presence of an accessory device (e.g., astylus) in front of the user's face, and a position of the stylus todetermine that the presence and/or position of the stylus is consistentwith a thinking gesture. As a specific, non-limiting and illustrativeexample, the cognitive assistance component may determine that the useris holding a stylus to their mouth, or is holding the stylus betweentheir earlobe and head in a manner that is consistent with a thinkinggesture. In alternative embodiments, the cognitive assistance componentmay receive information from sensors implemented within a stylus todetermine the position/orientation of the stylus and to determine thatthe position/orientation of the stylus is consistent with a thinkinggesture.

As further described herein, the cognitive assistance component mayidentify a specific section on the display of the user device on whichthe user is focused, and may identify relevant content based on thecontent displayed on the user-focused section. Additionally, oralternatively, the cognitive assistance component may identify relevantcontent further based on a user profile identifying the user'sinterests, historical written content, writing styles, etc. Thecognitive assistance component may present the relevant content on theuser device and the user may select to insert some or all of therelevant content (e.g., to a notepad or other application) using touchinput, input via a stylus, or a combination thereof.

As described herein, the cognitive assistance component may determinethat user has entered a thinking state and determine the relevantcontent to the user based on a user profile stored in acomputer-accessible database and by accessing billions of webpagesand/or other computer-readable documents via a computer network. It istherefore emphasized that the processes of the present invention cannotpractically performed by human, and that the present invention providesa technical solution to the technical problem of obtaining relevantcontent that is only accessible through computer-related technology andcomputer searching techniques.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a nonremovable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and relevant content determination 96.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the program/utility 40 may include one or moreprogram modules 42 that generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein (e.g.,such as the functionality provided by relevant content determination96). Specifically, the program modules 42 may monitor user gesture,detect a thinking gesture, detect content being viewed by the user on auser device, determine content related to the viewed content based on auser profile, and present the related content to the user. Otherfunctionalities of the program modules 42 are described further hereinsuch that the program modules 42 are not limited to the functionsdescribed above. Moreover, it is noted that some of the modules 42 canbe implemented within the infrastructure shown in FIGS. 1-3. Forexample, the modules 42 may be representative of a cognitive assistancecomponent 215 as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows an overview of an example implementation in accordance withaspects of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a user device 210may observe a user via a camera while the user is within a field of viewof the camera. For example, while the user device 210 is set on asurface and the user is writing on the display of the user device 210,the camera device may be used to observe the user. At step 1.1, acognitive assistance component 215 implemented by the user device 210may detect, based on observing the user and a visual analysis of theuser, a “thinking” gesture. For example, the cognitive assistancecomponent 215 may detect the thinking gesture when the user pauses fromwriting (e.g., indicating a cognitive pause in which the user has pausedfrom writing and is now thinking about subsequent material to write).More specifically, the cognitive assistance component 215 may detect thethinking gesture facial recognition techniques to identify a facialexpression consistent with a thinking gesture. Additionally, oralternatively, the cognitive assistance component 215 may use imageanalysis techniques (e.g., pixel-based analysis, object detection, etc.)to detect the presence of an accessory device 205 (e.g., a stylus) infront of the user's face/mouth, and a position of the stylus todetermine that the presence and/or position of the stylus is consistentwith a thinking gesture. In alternative embodiments, the cognitiveassistance component 205 may receive information from sensorsimplemented within the accessory device 205 to determine theposition/orientation of the accessory device 205 and to determine thatthe position/orientation of the accessory device 205 is consistent witha thinking gesture.

At step 1.2, the cognitive assistance component 215 may provide the userwith relevant content to assist to the user's thinking. For example, thecognitive assistance component 215 may provide content that is of asimilar subject to that of which the user is writing, or that is of asimilar subject to content displayed on the user device 210. Inembodiments, the cognitive assistance component 215 may search for therelevant content on webpages by using a search engine and/or othersearching techniques. For example, the cognitive assistance component215 may perform a word search corresponding to words written by theuser, an image search correspond to objects drawn by the user or beingdisplayed on the user device 210, etc.

As further described herein, the cognitive assistance component 215 mayidentify a specific section on the display of the user device 210 onwhich the user is focused, and may identify relevant content based onthe content displayed on the user-focused section. Additionally, oralternatively, the cognitive assistance component 215 may identifyrelevant content further based on a user profile identifying the user'sinterests, knowledge, experience, historical activity (e.g., webbrowsing activity, writing activity, writing styles, etc.). For example,the cognitive assistance component 215 may determine that the user'sknowledge/interests relate to the subject content (e.g., the content onthe user device 210 on which the user is focusing), and may determinethat particular areas of the user's knowledge are relevant to thesubject content. As an illustrative, non-limiting example, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may determine that the user profile identifiesthat the user has knowledge and experience in a particular skill set(e.g., software encryption), and that the subject content is related tosoftware encryption, but that the user has not yet written anythingrelated to software encryption. In this example, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may determine that software encryption conceptsare relevant to the subject content. The cognitive assistance component215 may further search for software encryption webpages/information,previously text written by the user relating to software encryption,and/or other relevant content.

The cognitive assistance component 215 may present the relevant contenton the user device and the user may select to insert some or all of therelevant content (e.g., to a notepad or other application) using touchinput, input via a stylus, or a combination thereof. In this way,relevant content is presented to the user while the user is thinking inorder to assist the user in enhancing the user's thoughts and gaininsights into additional material to assist with completing the user'sthoughts and writing.

FIG. 5 shows an example environment in accordance with aspects of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 5, environment 500 may include aaccessory device 205, a user device 210, content servers 220, andnetwork 230. In embodiments, one or more components in environment 500may correspond to one or more components in the cloud computingenvironment of FIG. 2. In embodiments, one or more components inenvironment 500 may include the components of computer system/server 12of FIG. 1.

The accessory device 205 may include an electronic pen, stylus, orsimilar type of device that is capable of providing input to aninteractive touch display of user device 210. The accessory device 205may be used by a user to digitally capture handwriting, hand drawings,and/or other touch-based input. The accessory device 205 may include oneor more touch sensors, motion sensors, gyroscopes, position sensors etc.that may be used to determine a position/orientation of the accessorydevice 205. The sensors on the accessory device 205 may be used tocapture movement of the stylus which may in turn be used to control orprovide input to the user device 210.

The user device 210 may include a computing device capable ofcommunicating via a network, such as the network 230. For example, theuser device 210 may correspond to a mobile communication device (e.g., asmartphone or a personal digital assistant (PDA)), a portable computerdevice (e.g., a laptop or a tablet computer), a desktop computing devicewith a corresponding touchpad, or touch-screen display, or another typeof computing device. In some embodiments, the user device 210 mayinclude one or more sensors and/or cameras that may capture a user'sactivity/gestures.

The user device 210 may include a cognitive assistance component 215that monitors the user's activity/gestures from the sensors/cameras todetermine when the user has entered a “thinking” state or gesture, asdescribed herein. The cognitive assistance component 215 may alsodetermine a user's focus area based on the sensors/cameras, obtain userprofile information related to content presented on an area of a displayof user device 210 mapping with the user's focus area, and presentrelated content to the user via the user device 210 display. In thisway, the cognitive assistance component 215 may predict what the usermay be thinking when in a “thinking” state, and present relevant contentbased on the what the user may thinking and based on the user's priorknowledge, interests, etc. The cognitive assistance component 215 mayperform other actions and processes as described herein. The cognitiveassistance component 215 may include one or more of the components ofthe computer system/server 12 of FIG. 1.

The content servers 220 may include one or more computing/servicedevices (such as a computer system/server 12 of FIG. 1) that hostscontent available to user devices 210 via network 230 (e.g., via theinternet). In embodiments, the cognitive assistance component 215 maysearch the content servers 220 for relevant content relating to asubject about which a user may be thinking, as described herein.

The network 230 may include network nodes, such as network nodes 10 ofFIG. 2. Additionally, or alternatively, the network 230 may include oneor more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, the network 230 mayinclude a cellular network (e.g., a second generation (2G) network, athird generation (3G) network, a fourth generation (4G) network, a fifthgeneration (5G) network, a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a globalsystem for mobile (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA)network, an evolution-data optimized (EVDO) network, or the like), apublic land mobile network (PLMN), and/or another network. Additionally,or alternatively, the network 230 may include a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan network (MAN), thePublic Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an ad hoc network, a managedInternet Protocol (IP) network, a virtual private network (VPN), anintranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, and/or acombination of these or other types of networks.

The quantity of devices and/or networks in the environment 500 is notlimited to what is shown in FIG. 5. In practice, the environment 500 mayinclude additional devices and/or networks; fewer devices and/ornetworks; different devices and/or networks; or differently arrangeddevices and/or networks than illustrated in FIG. 5. Also, in someimplementations, one or more of the devices of the environment 500 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherone or more of the devices of the environment 500. Devices of theenvironment 500 may interconnect via wired connections, wirelessconnections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of example components of a cognitiveassistance component 215 in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 6, the cognitive assistance component 215may include a user gesture and input activity monitoring module 610, auser thinking gesture detection module 620, a subject contentdetermination module 630, a user profile repository 640, a relevantcontent determination module 650, and a relevant content presentationmodule 660. In embodiments, the cognitive assistance component 215 mayinclude additional or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 6. Inembodiments, separate components may be integrated into a singlecomputing component or module. Additionally, or alternatively, a singlecomponent may be implemented as multiple computing components ormodules.

The user gesture and input activity monitoring module 610 may include aprogram module (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) that monitors thegestures of a user using the user device 210. For example, the usergesture and input activity monitoring module 610 may monitor the user'sgestures by obtaining information from one or more camera devicesimplemented by the user device 210. Additionally, or alternatively, theuser gesture and input activity monitoring module 610 may monitor theuser's gestures by obtaining information from one or more sensorsobtained by the accessory device 205. The user gesture and inputactivity monitoring module 610 may also monitor user input activity onthe user device 210 (e.g., monitor the user's usage of the user device210, writing activity via the accessory device 205, typing activity,etc.).

The user thinking gesture detection module 620 may include a programmodule (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) that detects that a user'sgesture is consistent with a thinking gesture when the user has entereda “thinking” state. For example, the user thinking gesture detectionmodule 620 may detect that the user's gesture is a thinking gesturebased on visual analysis of the user's facial expressions whenmonitoring the user's gestures via a camera of the user device 210 asdescribed above with respect to the user gesture and input activitymonitoring module 610. Additionally, or alternatively, the user thinkinggesture detection module 620 may detect that the user's gesture is athinking gesture based on the information obtained from one or moresensors obtained by the accessory device 205. For example, the userthinking gesture detection module 620 may detect the thinking gesturebased on senor data indicating that the accessory device 205 ispositioned or oriented in a manner consistent with the thinking gesture.Additionally, or alternatively, the user thinking gesture detectionmodule 620 may detect the thinking gesture based on detecting that theproximity of the accessory device 205 is consistent with that of thethinking gesture (e.g., when the accessory device 205 is located at theuser's mouth, ear lobe area, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, theuser thinking gesture detection module 620 may detect the thinkinggesture based on detecting a pause in writing activity and/or other useractivity for a threshold period of time.

The subject content determination module 630 may include a programmodule (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) that determines subjectcontent for which suggested or related content will be determined. Inembodiments, the subject content determination module 630 may determinethe subject content as content being viewed by the user based on adirection and viewing angle at which the user's eyes are focused on thedisplay of the user device 210. In embodiments, the subject contentdetermination module 630 may detect the viewing angle using imageanalysis techniques on video data captured by the camera of user device210. For example, the subject content determination module 630 mayidentify the user's eyes from the camera and an angle in which the eyesare facing relative to the display of the user device 210 to determine auser-focused section on the display of the user device 210 and thecontent presented on the user-focused section. In a situation in which auser-focused section is unable to be determined, the subject contentdetermination module 630 may assume that the content on the entiredisplay is being viewed and that the content on the entire display isthe subject content. In embodiments, the subject content determinationmodule 630 may also determine subject content as written words and/orother handwritten user input from the accessory device 205.

The user profile repository 640 may include a data storage device (e.g.,storage system 34 of FIG. 1) that stores information regarding the user,such as user interests, knowledge, historical writing styles, historicalwritten content, web browsing activity, etc. As described herein,information stored by the user profile repository 640 may be used toidentify relevant or suggested content that is related to the userprofile information and the subject content from the subject contentdetermination module 630.

The relevant content determination module 650 may include a programmodule (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) that may identify relevantcontent based on the user profile information in the user profilerepository 640 and the subject content determined by the subject contentdetermination module 630. For example, the relevant contentdetermination module 650 may determine that particular areas of theuser's knowledge are relevant to the subject content. As anillustrative, non-limiting example, the relevant content determinationmodule 650 may determine that the user profile identifies that the userhas knowledge and experience in a particular skill set (e.g., softwareencryption), and that the subject content is related to softwareencryption, but that the user has not yet written anything related tosoftware encryption. In this example, the relevant content determinationmodule 650 may determine that software encryption concepts are relevantto the subject content. The relevant content determination module 650may further search for software encryption webpages/information,previously text written by the user relating to software encryption,and/or other relevant content.

In embodiments, the relevant content determination module 650 mayfurther determine relevant content based on the knowledge and/orexperiences of other users having prior experience with the subjectcontent. For example, the relevant content determination module 650 mayidentify a subject matter expert (SME) having prior experience with thesubject content by searching a database that identifies SME's associatedwith the subject content. The relevant content determination module 650may obtain relevant content previously authored by the SME (e.g.,articles, books, blog post, social media posts, and/or otherpublications authored by the SME on the subject content, or based onuser profile data or social media profile of the SME). Additionally, oralternatively, relevant content determination module 650 may identifyusers having prior experience with the subject content from a socialmedia network, and may obtain relevant content previously authored bythose identified users. For example, the relevant content determinationmodule 650 may search a social media network with words/phrases relatingto the subject content as a search query to identify individuals on asocial media network having expertise in the subject content.

The relevant content presentation module 660 may include a programmodule (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) that may present the relevantcontent on the user device 210. In embodiments, the relevant contentpresentation module 660 may present the relevant content in a section ofthe display of the user device 210 corresponding to a user-focusedsection. The relevant content presentation module 660 may receive userinput (e.g., via the touch screen and/or gestures/movements made withthe accessory device 205) to insert some or all of the relevant content(e.g., to a notepad application in which the user is currently writing)or hide the relevant content.

FIG. 7 shows an example flowchart of a process 700 for determining andpresenting relevant content to a user based on detecting that the userhas entered a thinking state. The steps of FIG. 7 may be implemented inthe environment of FIG. 5, for example, and are described usingreference numbers of elements depicted in FIG. 5. As noted above, theflowchart illustrates the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of systems, methods, and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, process 700 may include monitoring a user's gesturesand user input activity (step 710). For example, as described above withrespect to the user gesture and input activity monitoring module 610,the cognitive assistance component 215 may monitor the user's gestureswhile the user is using the user device 210 by obtaining informationfrom one or more camera devices implemented by the user device 210.Additionally, or alternatively, the cognitive assistance component 215may monitor the user's gestures by obtaining information from one ormore sensors obtained by the accessory device 205. The cognitiveassistance component 215 may also monitor user input activity on theuser device 210 (e.g., monitor the user's usage of the user device 210,writing activity via the accessory device 205, typing activity, etc.).

Process 700 may also include detecting that the user has entered athinking state (step 720). For example, as described above with respectto the user thinking gesture detection module 620, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may detect that a the user has entered athinking state when the user's gesture is consistent with a thinkinggesture based on visual analysis of the user's facial expressions.Additionally, or alternatively, the cognitive assistance component 215may detect that the user's gesture is a thinking gesture based on theinformation obtained from one or more sensors obtained by the accessorydevice 205. For example, the user thinking gesture detection module 620may detect the thinking gesture based on senor data indicating that theaccessory device 205 is positioned or oriented in a manner consistentwith the thinking gesture. Additionally, or alternatively, the userthinking gesture detection module 620 may detect that the user hasentered the thinking state based on detecting a pause in writingactivity and/or other user activity for a threshold period of time.Additionally, or alternatively, the user thinking gesture detectionmodule 620 may detect the thinking gesture based on detecting that theproximity of the accessory device 205 is consistent with that of thethinking gesture (e.g., when the accessory device 205 is located at theuser's mouth, ear lobe area, etc.). In embodiments, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may detect that the user has entered thethinking state even when a accessory device 205 is not being used foruser input.

Process 700 may further include determining subject content (step 730).For example, as described above with respect to the subject contentdetermination module 630, the cognitive assistance component 215 maydetermine subject content for which suggested or related content will bedetermined. In embodiments, the cognitive assistance component 215 maydetermine the subject content as content being viewed by the user basedon a direction and viewing angle at which the user's eyes are focused onthe display of the user device 210. Alternatively, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may determine that the content on the entiredisplay is the subject content. In embodiments, the cognitive assistancecomponent 215 may also determine subject content as written words and/orother handwritten user input from the accessory device 205

Process 700 may also include determining content relevant to the subjectcontent based on a user profile (step 740). For example, as describedabove with respect to the user profile repository 640 and the relevantcontent determination module 650, the cognitive assistance component 215may identify relevant content based on the user profile informationstored by the user profile repository 640 and the subject contentdetermined by the subject content determination module 630. For example,the cognitive assistance component 215 may determine that particularareas of the user's knowledge are relevant to the subject content. Thecognitive assistance component 215 may further search for webpagescontaining relevant content associated with the subject content and theuser profile information. Additionally, or alternatively, the cognitiveassistance component 215 may determine related content as previouslytext written by the user relating to the subject content.

Process 700 may further include presenting the relevant content to theuser (step 750). For example, as described above with respect to therelevant content presentation module 660, the cognitive assistancecomponent 215 may present the relevant content to the user via the userdevice 210. In embodiments, the cognitive assistance component 215 maypresent the relevant content in a section of the display of the userdevice 210 corresponding to a user-focused section. Alternatively, thecognitive assistance component 215 may present the relevant content in adifferent section of the user device 210. The cognitive assistancecomponent 215 may receive user input (e.g., via the touch screen and/orgestures/movements made with the accessory device 205) to insert some orall of the relevant content (e.g., to a notepad application in which theuser is currently writing) or hide the relevant content.

In embodiments, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, couldoffer to perform the processes described herein. In this case, theservice provider can create, maintain, deploy, support, etc., thecomputer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the inventionfor one or more customers. These customers may be, for example, anybusiness that uses technology. In return, the service provider canreceive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or feeagreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the saleof advertising content to one or more third parties.

In still additional embodiments, the invention provides acomputer-implemented method, via a network. In this case, a computerinfrastructure, such as computer system/server 12 (FIG. 1), can beprovided and one or more systems for performing the processes of theinvention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified,etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, thedeployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installingprogram code on a computing device, such as computer system/server 12(as shown in FIG. 1), from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one ormore computing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3)incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of thecomputer infrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to performthe processes of the invention.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:monitoring, by a user device, user gesture and user input activity by auser of the user device; detecting, by the user device, that the userhas entered a thinking state based on the monitoring; determining, bythe user device, subject content based on content displayed on a displayof the user device based on the detecting; determining, by the userdevice, relevant content associated with the subject content; andpresenting, by the user device, the relevant content to the user via thedisplay, wherein the monitoring comprises receiving data from anaccessory device relating to a position and orientation of the accessorydevice, the accessory device is a stylus device, and the position andorientation of the accessory device is in a mouth of the user.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises receiving video datafrom a camera implemented by the user device.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the user activity haspaused for a threshold period of time.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe determining the relevant content is further based on at least oneselected from a group consisting of: user profile information; andcontent previously authored by an individual having prior experiencewith the subject content wherein the individual having the priorexperience is identified from at least one selected from a groupconsisting of: a social media network; and a database identifyingsubject matter experts having the prior experience.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the user profile information comprises at least oneselected from the group consisting of: user interests; user expertiseinformation; user writing style; historical user written content; andhistorical user browsing activity.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thesubject content includes content being viewed by the user.
 7. The methodof claim 6, further comprising determining a user viewing direction,wherein the content being viewed by the user is determined based on theuser viewing direction.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein a serviceprovider at least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports theuser device.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring, thedetecting, the determining the subject content, the determining therelevant content, and the presenting the relevant content are providedby a service provider on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device includes softwareprovided as a service in a cloud environment.
 11. The method of claim 1,further comprising deploying a system for detecting that the user hasentered the thinking state and providing the relevant content based onthe detecting that the user has entered the thinking state, comprisingproviding a computer infrastructure operable to perform the monitoring,the detecting, the determining the subject content, the determining therelevant content, and the presenting the relevant content.
 12. Acomputer program product for detecting that the user has entered athinking state while using a user device and providing relevant content,the computer program product comprising a computer readable storagemedium having program instructions embodied therewith, the programinstructions executable by a computing device to cause the computingdevice to: monitor user input activity by the user of the user device;detect that the user has entered a thinking state based on themonitoring; determine subject content based on content displayed on adisplay of the user device based on the detecting; determine relevantcontent associated with the subject content; and present the relevantcontent to the user via the display, wherein the monitoring comprisesreceiving data from an accessory device relating to a position andorientation of the accessory device, the accessory device is a stylusdevice, and the position and orientation of the accessory device is in amouth of the user.
 13. The computer program product of claim 12, whereinthe monitoring comprises receiving video data from a camera implementedby the user device.
 14. The computer program product of claim 12,wherein the user input activity comprises receiving handwritten input tothe user device via a stylus device.
 15. The computer program product ofclaim 12, wherein the determining the relevant content is further basedon user profile information.
 16. A system comprising: a CPU, a computerreadable memory and a computer readable storage medium associated with auser device; program instructions to monitor user input to the userdevice via an accessory device; program instructions to detect a pausein the user input based on the monitoring; program instructions toprovide relevant content to the user via the user device based on thedetecting the pause, wherein the monitoring comprises receiving datafrom the accessory device relating to a position and orientation of theaccessory device, the accessory device is a stylus device, the positionand orientation of the accessory device is in a mouth of the user, andthe program instructions are stored on the computer readable storagemedium for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory. 17.The system of claim 16, further comprising program instruction todetermine the relevant content based on: the user's viewing directionand content presented on a display of the user device corresponding tothe user's viewing direction; and user profile information.